Secret squirrel,
the system did work, i presume you are referring to AMS.
Looks as though they have now cottoned on to this, and replaced the old remote (containing p1-4 buttons), i suppose the increasing number of flat batteries in the remotes was a dead give-away.
As far as i know, with the present system, going through the menu, or scrolling through the channnels, it isn't possible to fiddle the system in the same way.
Dublin has to be the worst rip off PAY-TV going. OK it is soft, like any other UK hotel, but even if you want to watch a normal film, it is approx £7 per film, as opposed to £7 for all channels for the night..